ai4bharat/Pralekha huggingface dataset:
Ministry of Mines
Overall Mineral Production Increases by 6.4% in May, 2023
Cumulative Growth touches 5.8% during April-May 2022-23
Ten Important Minerals Indicate Positive Growth
The index of mineral production of mining and quarrying sector for the month of May, 2023  at 128.1, is 6.4% higher as compared to the level during May, 2022. As per the provisional figures of Indian Bureau of Mines , the cumulative growth for the period April- May, 2022-23 over the corresponding period of the previous year is 5.8 % per cent.
Production level of important minerals in May, 2023 were: coal 762 lakh, lignite 35 lakh, petroleum  25 lakh, iron ore 253 lakh, limestone 387 lakh tonnes each, natural gas  2838 million cu. m, bauxite 2386000, chromite 372000, copper conc. 9000, lead conc. 33000, manganese ore 329000, zinc conc. 133000, phosphorite 140000, and magnesite 11000 tonnes each and gold 97 kg.
Important minerals showing positive growth during May, 2023 over May, 2022 include: manganese ore , magnesite , copper conc. , chromite, iron ore ,limestone, lead conc., coal , bauxite and zinc conc.. At the same time, other important minerals showing negative growth include: natural gas, petroleum  , phosphorite  and lignite,
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurates two National Highway projects with an investment of more than Rs 3,300 crore in Lucknow today
Increasing the pace of development of Uttar Pradesh, the Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated two National Highway projects with an investment of more than Rs 3,300 crore in Lucknow today.
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Yogi Adityanath along with Shri Rajnath Singh, Union Minister of State, Shri General V.K. Singh, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Brajesh Pathak, Union Minister of State, Shri Kaushal Kishore, State Ministers Shri Jitin Prasad, Shri Aseem Arun, Member of Parliament, Shri Subrat Pathak, MP Dr. Ashok Bajpai and other MPs, MLAs and officials were also present on the occasion.
Lucknow is the capital of Uttar Pradesh and one of the important cities of the country. Two National Highway projects have been inaugurated at a cost of more than 3,300 crores in Lucknow today. The inaugurated project includes, Madiyav-I.I.M. of Lucknow-Sitapur section on National Highway 24. The newly constructed 4-lane elevated corridor at the crossing has been completed 6 months ahead of time. This will provide better connectivity from Lucknow to Sitapur, avoid heavy traffic jams at Bhitauli Tiraha and Jankipuram Extention and will save more than 30 minutes of time and fuel. Pilgrims will be facilitated to visit Chandrika Devi and Naimisharanya.
The Construction of 4-lane road from Naviganj to Mitrasenpur of Aligarh-Kanpur section will facilitate traffic between Naviganj, Kannauj, Mitrasenpur and further to Delhi. Economic development will get a boost in the perfume hub of Uttar Pradesh, Kannauj and surrounding areas. Small and medium industries will get a boost in areas like Chhibramau, Gursahaiganj, Jalalabad, Manimau. Farmers of Kannauj will have ease of transport till Chhibramau, Naviganj Mandi and direct access to Delhi will be easy.
Election Commission
News reports on alleged 'large scale' failure of EVMs and VVPATs - an exaggerated projection : ECI
News reports surfacing in the media alleging 'large scale' failure of EVMs and VVPATs in the ongoing bye-elections and interruption of poll in the States of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are an exaggerated projection of reality.
The Election Commission of India has said that the Commission allocates sufficient reserve of EVMs and VVPATs for every General/Bye election to the Lok Sabha or State Legislative Assembly. It is pertinent to mention that during commissioning of EVMs and VVPATs, apart from EVMs and VVPATs required for deployment at every polling station, adequate number of reserve EVMs and VVPATs  are prepared to replace any defective machine on poll day at the polling station. These reserve EVMs/VVPATs are kept with Sector Officers, who replace the defective EVMs/VVPATs, if any report on non-functioning of EVM/VVPAT received from any polling station. Since each sector Officer is entrusted with only 10-12 polling stations, the time taken to replace any EVM/VVPAT at a polling station is normally less than 30 minutes. The replacement of defective EVMs/VVPATs during actual polls is a normal process and does not vitiate the integrity or credibility of the poll process in any way whatsoever.
Further, there are reports being aired in some news channels of polling being cancelled in 35 booths in 11-Bhandara-Gondiya Parliamentary Constituency in Maharashtra, is not based on facts. Also, the reports emerging in some quarters about EVMs/VVPATs failing in 25% polling booths in the same PC are also incorrect. It is clarified that voting has not been cancelled in any polling station in 11-Bhandara-Gondiya PC and voting is continuing smoothly after necessary replacements, where ever required. However, as and when a report from RO/DEO/CEO regarding long interruption of polling is received, the Commission takes a decision on those matters on case to case basis.
The Commission undertakes a comprehensive examination and root-cause analysis of all the defects observed in the machines through the Technical Experts Committee of the Commission and necessary remedial actions are being taken for smooth conduct of poll process.
SBS/MJS
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Ministry of Culture
NMA chairman Shri Tarun Vijay submits report to Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal on declaring Mangarh hillock in Rajasthan as a monument of National Importance as tribute to 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters
Our younger generation is unaware of sacrifice of Bhil tribals and Mangarh hillock, it will be our responsibility to provide information about Mangarh Hillock and highlight its significance: Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal.
A team from National Monuments Authority lead by Shri Tarun Vijay, Chairman, National Monuments Authority, submitted a report on declaring Mangarh hillock in Rajasthan as a monument of National Importance in the year of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, to Minister of State for Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal today at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts , New Delhi. This report carries relevant details about the Mangarh hillock and recommendations by National Monuments Authority.
Interacting with media, Minister of State for Culture Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal said that the unsung heroes and Mangarh hillock haven’t received the importance in history which they deserved. He also said 1500 Bhil tribal freedom fighters were brutally killed by the British army on 17th November 1913. To pay our tribute to them , on the occasion of Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav we will positively take forward the report submitted by NMA Chairperson, Shri Tarun Vijay. The Union Minister also added that our younger generation is unaware of their sacrifice and Mangarh hillock, it will be our responsibility to highlight significance of and provide information about Mangarh Hillock.
Mangarh, the hillock in Banswara District, Rajasthan was visited by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat and the local Bhil tribals had been demanding the Mangarh hills to be declared as National Monument.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
INDIA-UK affirm shared commitment to a Free Trade Agreement and towards that,Early Harvest deals in a staged manner
India and UK held the 14th Joint Economic and Trade Committee meeting on 24th July, 2020 virtually. It was co-chaired by Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for International Trade , HE , Ms Elizabeth Truss. They were assisted by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Shri Hardeep Singh Puri and his counterpart, UK Minister of State for International Trade, HE Mr Ranil Jayawardena.
Minister Goyal and Ms Truss affirmed their shared commitment to a Free Trade Agreement and towards that, Early Harvest deals in a staged manner. MOS Puri and Minister Jayawardena will have monthly meetings to intensify the dialogue. It was decided that a meeting led by Minister Goyal and SOS Truss will be held in Autumn 2020 in New Delhi to carry forward the dialogue. The Co-chairs of Business led Joint Working Groups on Life Science and Health, ICT and Food and Drink set up during the last JETCO made their recommendations to the Ministers.
The formal talks were followed by a plenary session led by Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, UK Minister of State for International Trade, Mr Ranil Jayawardena and UK Minister of State for Investment, Mr. Gerry Grimstone interacting with business leaders which included Shri Chandrajit Banerjee DG CII and Shri Alay Piramal, Co-Chair of the India UK CEOs’ Forum.
Both sides approached the talks with open minds and shared commitment to revival and revitalisation of the long standing trade and economic linkages between India and the UK. Both sides also resolved to cooperate in health Sector especially in view of the present Pandemic of COVID-19.
Ministry of Food Processing Industries
M/o Food Processing Industries, through its schemes, is helping strengthening of food processing / preservation infrastructure with efficient supply chain across the country, thereby, reducing gap between production and processing capacity & post-harvest losses
Ministry of Food Processing Industries , through its schemes, is helping strengthening of food processing/ preservation infrastructure with efficient supply chain across the country and thereby reducing gap between production and processing capacity & post-harvest losses. MoFPI is implementing a Central Sector Umbrella scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana  since 2016-17. Projects completed under component schemes of PMKSY have resulted in creation of about 194 Lakh Metric Tonnes of preservation & processing capacity.
Union Minister of State for M/o Food Processing Industries, Shri Prahlad Singh Patel informs Lok Sabha, in a written reply to a question, that as part of Aatmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, MoFPI is implementing Centrally Sponsored PM Formalization of Micro food processing Enterprises  Scheme since 2020-21 for providing financial, technical and business support to Micro Food Processing Enterprises and so far applications of 18472 beneficiaries have been sanctioned under the scheme. Also, Central Sector Production Linked Incentive Scheme for Food Processing Industry , implemented by MoFPI, is targeted to facilitate expansion of food processing capacity by creating champion brands in Food Processing Sector with total outlay of Rs 10,900 Cr for a period of 6 years . A total of 180 proposals have been approved for assistance under different categories of PLISFPI.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Union Women and Child Development Minister Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani celebrates women who emphatically pursue excellence in community service at CII Annual Session 2023
‘They are change makers, grassroots leaders who have contributed much to the field of healthcare, education and entrepreneurship’; Union WCD Minister
Union Women and Child Development Minister, Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani celebrated women who emphatically pursue excellence in community service at the Annual Session 2023 of the Confederation of Indian Industry yesterday.
Smt. Smriti Zubin Irani tweeted that they are change makers, grassroots leaders who have contributed much to the field of healthcare, education and entrepreneurship.
Ministry of Defence
Indian Air Force signs MOU with IIT Madras to accelerate indigenisation efforts for ATMA Nirbhar Bharat
Indian Air Force and IIT Madras signed a MoU on 13 April 22 for various developmental projects to support the requirements of the IAF. The MoU was signed by Air Commodore S Bahuja, Command Engineering Officer , Headquarters Maintenance Command, IAF and Professor H S N Murthy, Head of Department Aerospace Engineering IIT Madras, at Air Force Station, Tughlakabad, Delhi.
Joint Partnership between IAF and IIT Madras aims to accelerate IAF’s indigenisation efforts for achieving ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’. Under the ambit of MoU, IAF has identified key focus areas involving technology development and finding indigenous solutions towards sustenance of various weapon systems. IIT Madras will provide consultancy duly supported by research for feasibility studies and prototype development.
IIT Madras in partnership with IAF will significantly contribute in indigenisation efforts by Base Repair Depots  of Maintenance Command IAF, towards enhancing sustenance capability, obsolescence management and achieving ‘Self Reliance’.
Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
Khelo India Projects
The Khelo India scheme in its present form started in October, 2017 with a total budget allocation of Rs. 1756 crore. Under this scheme, State wise budget allocation is not made and projects are sanctioned based on their viability. Funds are released project wise.Information relating to number of projects sanctioned and funds released State wise is at Annexure.
ANNEXURE
STATE WISE DETAILS OF NUMBER OF PROJECTS SANCTIONED AND FUNDS RELEASED UNDER KHELO INDIA SCHEME

|
|
S. No.
|
|
Name of the State/
Union Territory
|
|
Number of
projects sanctioned
|
|
Sanctioned
amount
|
|
Funds
released
|
|
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
|
4
|
|
23.50
|
|
7.50
|
|
|
|
2
|
|
Arunachal Pradesh
|
|
19
|
|
149.00
|
|
55.00
|
|
|
|
3
|
|
Assam
|
|
5
|
|
27.00
|
|
23.82
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
Chhattisgarh
|
|
1
|
|
5.44
|
|
2.50
|
|
|
|
5
|
|
Gujarat
|
|
4
|
|
24.67
|
|
11.00
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
Haryana
|
|
4
|
|
47.42
|
|
27.60
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
|
2
|
|
29.87
|
|
11.13
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
Jharkhand
|
|
1
|
|
2.07
|
|
2.07
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
Karnataka
|
|
8
|
|
69.27
|
|
35.28
|
|
|
|
10
|
|
Kerala
|
|
4
|
|
56.80
|
|
24.15
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
|
7
|
|
55.46
|
|
23.99
|
|
|
|
12
|
|
Maharashtra
|
|
8
|
|
90.41
|
|
45.93
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
Manipur
|
|
6
|
|
58.85
|
|
24.15
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
Mizoram
|
|
2
|
|
9.50
|
|
7.00
|
|
|
|
15
|
|
Nagaland
|
|
1
|
|
7.00
|
|
7.00
|
|
|
|
16
|
|
Odisha
|
|
4
|
|
28.00
|
|
12.00
|
|
|
|
17
|
|
Punjab
|
|
4
|
|
52.44
|
|
17.09
|
|
|
|
18
|
|
Rajasthan
|
|
38
|
|
78.77
|
|
67.95
|
|
|
|
19
|
|
Sikkim
|
|
1
|
|
7.90
|
|
3.00
|
|
|
|
20
|
|
Tamil Nadu
|
|
2
|
|
14.00
|
|
7.00
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
Tripura
|
|
1
|
|
5.00
|
|
2.50
|
|
|
|
22
|
|
Telangana
|
|
3
|
|
19.50
|
|
8.50
|
|
|
|
23
|
|
Uttarakhand
|
|
3
|
|
18.50
|
|
12.50
|
|
|
|
24
|
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
|
25
|
|
165.80
|
|
67.03
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
2
|
|
33.77
|
|
11.53
|
|
|
|
26
|
|
Delhi
|
|
8
|
|
110.61
|
|
51.40
|
|
|
|
27
|
|
Puducherry
|
|
2
|
|
12.00
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
|
28
|
|
Jammu and Kashmir
|
|
4
|
|
24.07
|
|
7.00
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
173
|
|
1226.62
|
|
580.62
|
|
This Information was given by the Minister of State  for Youth Affairs &Sports Shri Kiren Rijiju in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
Prime Minister's Office
PM condoles loss of lives due to bus accident in Jalore, Rajasthan
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has expressed grief over the loss of lives due to a bus accident in Jalore, Rajasthan.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "राजस्थान के जालौर में हुए बस हादसे की खबर से अत्यंत दुख पहुंचा है। इस दुर्घटना में कई लोगों को अपनी जान गंवानी पड़ी है। मैं उनके परिवार वालों के प्रति अपनी संवेदनाएं प्रकट करता हूं और घायलों के शीघ्र स्वस्थ होने की कामना करता हूं।"
Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution
Produce stored in Warehousing Development Regulatory Authority  registered warehouses has greater security compared with unregistered warehouses: Centre
Direct beneficiaries of WDRA ecosystem are farmers, warehouseman and traders: WDRA
WDRA organizes one day outreach programme in Jammu
The Warehousing Development and Regulatory Authority  under the Department of Food and Public Distribution, Government of India organized an outreach programme on “registration of warehouses with WDRA” on 28.08.2023 at Baba Jitto Kisan Kendra, Directorate of Agriculture, Gole Pully, Talab Tillo, Jammu to promote registration of warehouses with WDRA.
Shri Arun Kumar Shrivastava, Member, WDRA highlighted that the produce stored in WDRA registered warehouses has greater security compared with unregistered warehouses. He said that electronic negotiable warehouse receipt is safer compared with paper receipts especially as chances of fraud against paper receipts are very high. e-NWR is a negotiable instrument backed by the WDRA Act 2007. He also outlined the benefits of WDRA registered warehouses including various insurances, periodic inspections, scientific storage with SOP, etc. to safeguard the interest of depositors and bankers.
He further said that Govt bodies such as FCI, NAFED and National Horticulture Board have already issued guidelines that Central Pool Stock should be kept in WDRA registered warehouses. Elaborating on the value chain of WDRA registered warehouse eco-system, he said that the direct beneficiaries of the WDRA ecosystem are farmers/warehouseman/ traders and requested participant specially owners of warehouses to register their warehouses with WDRA.
During Open House significant suggestions were made in further improving the registration process and pledge finance system of WDRA.
Shri Vikas Sharma, Director, Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Jammu & Kashmir in his welcome address appreciated the unique role of WDRA in ensuring scientific storage of food grains and pledge finance to the farmers through e-NWR ecosystem. Shri H K Dabas, Under Secretary, WDRA briefed about the Warehousing Act and Rules. Shri Brijendra Pratap Yadav, Assistant Director, WDRA explained about the registration process of WDRA for warehouseman and warehouses.
Representatives from NABARD, FCI, Department of Food, Civil Supplies Consumer Affairs, Industries and Commerce, SIDCO, SICOP, various banks, department of Agriculture and Horticulture, Jammu, J & K Agro Corporation, President CA Stores Association Kashmir, Maajid Wafai and various CA Stores owners, owners of warehouses, Farmers, FPOs etc. attended the conference.
Ministry of Mines
MEETING ON MINES SAFETY
A meeting on “Safety status in mines, future Challenges”, was held at the office of Directorate General of Mines Safety  here today. Representatives of trade unions from all over the country participated in the meeting.
Implementation of Safety Management Plan  and mechanism to enhance safety and health standard in mines and various aspects of mines safety were discussed.
Director General of Mines Safety Shri R. Subramanian, Deputy Director Generals of various zones Shri C Ramesh Kumar, Shri Gubba Vijaya Kumar, Shri DK Sahoo, Shri Malay Tikadar , Shri K S Yadav, shri Prabhat Kumar were present in the meeting. 92 trade unions representatives from all over the country also participated in the meeting.(Visitor Counter : 110
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Swachhata Hi Seva Activities in West Bengal
Efforts on to Make Tourist Places 'Zero Plastic Waste Villages'
Kolkata, September 22, 2023
'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign September 15 September to October 2, 2023 is being observed in the State in a befitting manner carrying out a host of activities. The event in inter alia covered the activities as mentioned below:
- Removal of garbage from all important places
- Cleaning of all legacy waste sites
- Retrofitting of all created assets
- At source segregation of waste for proper management
- Cleanliness drive at school
- Proper management of Plastic waste
- Management of Grew Water
- Safai Mitra Surakhsha Shivir .
The State level campaign was launched on September 13, 2023 at Purba Medinipur by the MIC, P&RD Department and the other districts organised a similar programme on that day. Another programme was organised at Jaldapara, Alipurduar on September 18, 2023 and was launched by the MOS, P&RD Department.
Wall painting, hoarding installation, poster handbill distribution etc are being done as part of IEC activities under the campaign. Massive awareness drive is being going on against the use of single use plastic. Special thrust is being given to declare the tourism areas as ‘Zero Plastic Waste Village.’ Swachh Karmi  are being honoured in all the Gram Panchayats.
Places of tourists’ attractions have also been given thrust in the campaign. Construction of biodegradable waste management facility, connection of septic tank with soak pit, waste segregation and retrofitting of single pit toilets will be done in all hotels, home-stays and cottages in the places with ample tourism potentials.
Areas susceptible to vector borne diseases have also been give a special focus.
This campaign is going to cover nearly 40,600 villages of the State out of which about 3,000 villages are under GPs of tourist’s attraction.
Ministry of Commerce & Industry
GeM and SAIL sign MoU for Setting up Project Management Unit
Secretary Steel, Binoy Kumar and Secretary Commerce, Anup Wadhawan at signing of MoU between GeM and SAIL to establish Project Management Unit
Government e Marketplace  under Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India and Steel Authority of India , signed anMoU to set upGeM Organizational Transformation Team Project Management Unit in New Delhi today. Secretary Steel,Binoy Kumar, Secretary Department of Commerce, Anup Wadhawan and CMD SAIL, Anil Chaudhary were present on this occasion. The MoU was signed by S. Suresh Kumar, Additional CEO,GeM and Harinand Rai, Director , SAIL.
The public procurement system is key to effective and efficient functioning of the Government as it underpins the performance of all sectors at different levels of Government.GeM, the national procurement platform, was launched in August 2016 to overcome the shortcomings like poor planning, insufficient competition, delays in procurement process, high tender premium / higher cost of infrastructure, allegations of corruption and poor complaint management.GeM provides an open, inclusive and efficient solution to all public procurement needs while leveraging technology and domain database.
To further align public offices to a market based public procurement, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, Government of India had last monthpermitted Ministries and Departments of Central and State Governments to consider services of GOTT on an outcome based self-sustenance model. GOTT will assist the buyer agency to transform their business activities, processes, competencies and models to fully leverage the opportunities of an open market based procurement.
With this MoU, SAIL has become the first PSU to establish GOTT PMU for transforming their procurement landscape and increasing their footprint on GeM.
It is projected that through the initiatives of GOTT PMU, SAIL will be able to transact Rs 1700 crore in terms of annual Gross Merchandize Value  on GeM platform in the first year and Rs 9000 crore, over a period of time, and thereby efficiently conductand monetize their public procurement.